What is an Angle Shoot in Poker?

When people talk about angle shoots in poker, they usually mean a shady practice that allows players to mislead their opponents and gain an advantage. This type of action isn’t exactly against the rules, but it does tarnish your reputation at the table and is something that tournament organizers actively fight against. Knowing what an angle shoot is and how to spot one can make the game more enjoyable for you and everyone else at the table.

One of the most basic forms of an angle shoot is hiding big chips behind lower-value ones. This trick gives the impression that a player has fewer chips than they actually do, which can have a dramatic impact on their decision-making process. In casual games, this can lead to mistakes that wouldn’t have happened if they had known the true value of their chips.

Another common technique is to deliberately misinterpret your opponent’s actions. This is a bit harder to do, since most verbal actions are binding and the way a person acts can be different than what they actually meant. For example, if you push forward a stack of chips that aren’t large enough to call and then say that you didn’t intend to check (when in actuality you intended to), this is considered an angle shoot.

A more sophisticated variation of this involves ambiguous statements and subtle moves. For example, if you’re betting and your opponent makes a bet, you might say “I call,” but then move your chips as if to indicate that you’re raising. This is called a “false bomb.”

It’s important to stay alert at the table and keep an eye out for these tactics. Luckily, they’re not as common in live games because they require real money and real cards and players seated across from you. However, they do exist, and can have a devastating effect on your bankroll if you’re not careful.

Another type of angle shoot is simulating a fold. To do this, a player will move their chips around in a way that suggests they’re about to fold and then make a sigh of relief or another ambiguous statement. The idea is to frighten the opponent into mucking their hand, at which point they can say that they’ve never folded. If you see this happen, you should be able to call it out easily. This is a clear violation of tournament etiquette, and it’s worth the extra effort to protect your bankroll from it.